In most parts of the world the game is known as football; only in the United States is it called soccer. But no matter what the name, Sheikh Abd Al-Rahman Al-Barrak has deemed the game, “a moral and social abomination.”
The Saudi Arabian cleric claims the game of football, “has caused the degradation of Islam.” He claims, “there is no doubt that football, played according to accepted international rules, has caused Muslim to adopt some of the customs of the enemies of Islam, who are preoccupied with games and frivolity. This game causes many abominable and corrupt acts.” These abominations include being a fanatic – fan – for one team because it causes hostility between fans, admiring a player…who is not a fellow Muslim, and aggressive behaviour by fans including the use of profanity.
The fatwa was translated by the Middle East Media research Institute.
In the past, Al-Barrak has said that football was, “a part of a Jewish conspiracy against the Muslims, aiming at distancing them from Allah, corrupting their morals, and causing them to wast their time.” He also condemned Muslim countries who showed any interest in sports events by encouraging the games, showing an interest in sports, and even trying to sponsor big sporting events like the World Cup.
The Islamic Republic of Iran is the only Islamic country participating in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Earlier the Sheikh was reported as saying women who drive in Saudi Arabia should be put to death. This was in response to a movement by Saudi women seeking the right to drive a vehicle.
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